from Everglades Earth First!
On Feb 26th 2014, over 80 Earth First!ers descended upon the headquarters of Florida Power and light (FPL) to voice their opposition to FPL’s dirty energy track record and FPL’s proposal for one of the largest fossil fuel power plants in the country, poised to be right next to the Big Cypress Seminole Tribe reservation. For over 2 hours, 5 activists locked themselves to each other by their necks to blockade the entrance to FPL’s headquarters in Juno Beach, FL and disrupt business as usual. Above is Detailed video footage released of the action taken by protesters that day. A Seminole Tribal Member Frank Billie and representative Danny Billie of the Traditional Independent Seminole Nation arrived just in time to talk to local media about their opposition to the power plant. More of their perspective on the powerplant and fight can be found in the Earth First! Journal article titled “Seminole Tribe, Independent Traditionals and Environmentalists Fight for Life in South Florida.” Also, check out the news channel 12 story of the protest, which investigates why we would call a power plant next to the Seminole Tribe reservation “environmental racism” and interviews Frank from the Seminole Tribe. CBS channel 12 news story video
Photo Credit: Everglades Earth First!
Since then, local Earth First!ers are engaged and involved in the fight against the proposed power plant greenwashingly called the “Hendry Next Generation Clean Energy Center” by opposing it at hearings effecting land use changes related to the power plant, networking with others working on the project, publishing more pieces and interviews on the fight and planning to join the Seminoles in their 68 mile walk from Big Cypress Reservation to the Labelle Courthouse April 18th-24th. Stay tuned for a video released by Seminole Media Productions promoting the walk. All are welcome to join the Seminole Tribe in the 68 mile walk. For those staying through, breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided, camping spots available and portapotties throughout the journey. The first day will be 23 miles, the next 20, Sunday will be another 20 miles and a final 5 miles on the day of court, Monday the 21st of April. What better way to ring in Earth Day (April 22nd) than by working so diligently to save a key piece of the everglades bioregion. For the panthers, endangered species, the air, the water, native rights and the wild; we will walk.
